LEWISTON, Maine — State officials identified Friday all 18 victims of a mass shooting that took place in Lewiston Wednesday, and the ages of the dead range from 14 to 76 and include multiple people who were related to each other.
Families of those killed were notified, Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said, and the photos used in a presentation at City Hall were approved by relatives.
Those killed include: Ronald Morin, 55; Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40; Joshua Seal, 36; Bryan MacFarlane, 41; Joseph Lawrence, 57; Arthur Fred Strout, 42; Maxx Hathaway, 35; Stephen Vozzella, 45; Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34; Michael Deslauriers II, 51; Jason Adam Walker, 51; Tricia Asselin, 53; William Young, 44; Aaron Young, 14; Robert Violette, 76; Lucille Violette, 73; William Frank Brackett, 48; and Keith Macneir, 64.
The suspect was found dead Friday night, officials said.
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Tricia C. Asselin, 53, bowling alley
Asselin worked at the bowling alley, her 75-year-old mother told NPR, but was there to bowl with her sister Bobbi-Lynn Nichols, 57, when the tragedy struck.
The two sisters were talking when the shots rang out. The sisters ran toward an exit, their mother told the news outlet, but Tricia had stopped to call for help and was then shot.
Tricia, her mom said, was an athlete who played baseball and softball in high school and was even offered a college scholarship. Her athleticism continued throughout her life with frequent golf and fishing outings. She also volunteered with organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
William Frank Brackett, 43, bowling alley
“Billy was a son, a husband, a father, a uncle and a friend to many especially in the deaf community he loved so much,” a GoFundMe organized to help his family during this hard time states. “He loved darts, and has been competing for years, he loved cornhole, enjoyed fishing and hunting. He leaves behind his wife Kristina and his 2 1/2 year old daughter Sandra. They are grieve stricken with this sudden loss.”
Brackett was one of four victims that were a part of the deaf community, whether deaf themselves, a parent of a deaf child or an interpreter, which also included Bryan MacFarlane, Stephen Vozzella and interpreter Joshua Seal, that left the community “grieving deeply,” according to a Thursday night post by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf Governor Baxter School for the Deaf.
Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40, Schemengees Bar and Grille
He was a pipefitter at Bath Iron Works, an organization that said it was left heartbroken by his death and sends “our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of our employee.”
A Bangor Daily News profile, which shared a photo of the smiling, bearded man holding a Superman action figure next to Brewer-Ross’ bicep tattoo of the superhero, revealed him to be a cornole player who was in the restaurant that night to participate in a tournament he was very excited to play.
Peyton’s elder brother Ralph Brewer said in a GoFundMe drive that Peyton was that night “doing one of the things he thought was so much fun — tossing around bean bags. He was playing cornhole with friends … when his life was cut short, way too short.”
The page states that most important to Peyton was his family. He leaves behind his partner in life Rachel, and their 2 year old daughter Elle. The loss of Peyton is devastating.”
Ralph Brewer told BDN that Peyton had “finally popped the question” and was engaged to his longtime partner Rachel. He had graduated from Maine Maritime Academy and was looking to purchase a house.
Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34, bowling alley
Conrad was not one of the names known until the press conference late Friday afternoon. A post by Adam Jordan, who has Facebook pictures indicating he was part of a bowling league, wrote that “Thomas Conrad tragically lost his life defending all of people in the shooting at Just in Time recreation. He leaves behind a 9 year old daughter.”
Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51, bowling alley
His sister Vicki Deslauriers Roy wrote on Facebook that “The loss of my brother leaves a gaping hole in our family. My brother was incredibly selfless, almost to a fault.”
“Yes, he was a smart ass and would never miss an opportunity to crack a joke at someone else’s expense, but he would happily give you the shirt off his back,” she continued. “I was not the least bit surprised to hear that he and his best friend since kindergarten lost their lives trying to protect others. I take comfort in knowing that they went together.”
Maxx A. Hathaway, 35, bowling alley
Hathaway was the father to two girls with another one on the way, according to a GoFundMe drive set up by one of his sisters, Keslay Hathaway. She described him as “a goofy, down to earth person, loved to joke around and always had an uplifting attitude no matter what was going on.”
She said the full-time, stay-at-home father’s interests included watching anime, playing games and playing pool.
Another sister, Courtney Hathaway, wrote on Facebook that she is “feeling a lot of things right now but I’m mostly heartbroken that he’s gone. Nothing really prepares you for the sudden and shocking loss of a loved one, especially when it happens in such a tragedy.”
Bryan M. MacFarlane, 41, Schemengees Bar and Grille
MacFarlane was another member of the deaf community who was playing cornhold when his life was cut short.
His sister, Keri Brooks, told CNN that her brother was one of the first deaf people to earn their commercial trucking licenses in Vermont and had only recently moved back to his home state of Maine. She said he loved riding his motorcycle and his dog, M&M.
Keith D. MacNeir, 64, bowling alley
The Herald was not able to independently verify information about MacNeir after his name was announced during the press conference Thursday.
Ronald G. Morin, 55, Schemengees Bar and Grille
Family member Cecile Francoeur described Ron Morin to the Bangor Daily News as a man who “was just always smiling,” adding that he was “just one of those people that if you are having a bad day, he was going to make your day better just by his presence.”
Joshua A. Seal, 36, Schemengees Bar and Grille
Seal was the director of American Sign Language interpreting for Auburn, Maine’s Pine Tree Society, an organization that says it is dedicated to “providing opportunities for growth and development for people with differing abilities.”
For those who knew him, his wife, Elizabeth Seal, wrote on Facebook, “first and foremost, he was the world’s BEST father to our four pups,” she said of their children, along with a collection of photos of the family, all smiles, on trips to the beach, the park, to Disney World and other places.
“Not only was he an amazing father, he was a wonderful husband, my best friend, and my soulmate,” she continued. “He was also a wonderful boss, an incredible interpreter, a great friend, a loving son, brother, uncle, and grandson. He loved his family and always put them first. That is what he will always be remembered for.”
Arthur Fred Strout, 42, Schemengees Bar and Grille
“Artie” Strout and his wife, Kristy, shared a blended family of five children, according to his brother, Tyler Barnard, who organized a GoFundMe drive to support the family.
His father, Arthur Barnard, told CBS news that he was playing pool with his son at the bar but that the younger man decided to stay to play a few more racks. Kristy Strout said “he was a great dad.”
Lucille M. Violette, 73, and Robert E. Violette, 76, bowling alley
Robert Violette was known as “Coach Bob,” according to posts from friends on social media, and “was one of the kindest souls in the bowling community in Lewiston,” who had a special place in his heart for the children he coached in the sport, his friend Brandon Dubuc wrote on Facebook.
The love Robert had for his wife Lucille was clear, as one of the final posts he shared on his own Facebook page was an image captioned “Your spouse is the only person who truly loves you for who you are,” and lists other relationships where love is somewhat required, like for parents and siblings. “Your spouse is another level. They choose you. Don’t take that relationship for granted.”
Stephen M. Vozzella, 45, Schemengees Bar and Grille
Stephen Vozzella was one of four victims that were a part of the deaf community and was a member of the New England Deaf Cornhole league, which wrote in its own Thursday post said brought great excitement and a huge smile to the organization who “will be missed on and off the courts!”
Jason Adam Walker, 51, bowling alley
Jason Walker, along with Mike Mike Deslauriers II, friends since kindergarten, “made the ultimate sacrifice,” another friend, Alan Johnson, wrote on Facebook. “They made sure their wives were safe and the children around them. Then they tried to stop the gunman that entered Sparetime in Lewiston.”
Joseph Lawrence Walker, 57, Schemengees Bar and Grille
Walker was a bar manager at the restaurant where he lost his life, his father, Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker. The elder Walker told NBC News that his son had died “as a hero” because he had confronted the gunman and tried to prevent more bloodshed.
“He picked up a butcher knife from somewheres — he has all that stuff near the bar anyway — and he tried to go at the gunman to try to stop him from shooting anybody else,” Leroy Walker said. “The gunman shot him twice through the stomach.”
But knowing his son had died trying to end the killings didn’t ease any of the father’s pain, as he said “It made it worse.”
Joseph Walker was also a member of the local cornhole league, according to his friend Nick Perry, who wrote on Facebook that Walker had welcomed he and his wife into the league family “from day one. I will forever be grateful for the laughs we shared.”
William, 44, and Aaron Young, 14, bowling alley
William was bowling with his son Aaron, a sophomore an Winthrop High, when the gunman entered and took their lives.
“It’s unfathomable that it would happen. You can’t even go bowling. You can’t go have a drink in a bar or enjoy a meal with your family without fear,” Wendy Bell, William’s brother and Aaron’s aunt, told CBS News.
She told that that outlet that her brother was a mechanic who “loved to laugh” and “loved to make people laugh, sometimes at my expense.”
This is a developing story.
